Tanzanian president assures foreign envoys of sustained cordial relations

DAR ES SALAAM, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian president John Magufuli has assured foreign envoys accredited to the east African nation of sustained and cordial working relations, the presidency said on Saturday.

A statement issued by the Directorate of presidential Communication at State House in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam said president Magufuli made the assurance at a sherry party he had hosted for the diplomats on Friday night.

"Tanzania is looking forward to continued cooperation with foreign countries in various spheres, including development and improvement of social welfare," said the head of state.

He thanked the diplomats from various countries, the United Nations and international organizations for supporting Tanzania in the implementation of various development projects.

The president said Tanzania has also managed to control inflation to 3.5 percent, adding that the east African nation was also a good destination for investment which was currently estimated at 1.18 billion U.S. dollars.

He said in 2018 Tanzania continued to implementing mega projects like the standard gauge railway from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma, preparations for the implementation of the 2,100-megawatt Stiegler's Gorge hydropower project in the Selous Game Reserve, the expansion of Dar es Salaam and Mtwara ports and the expansion of the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.

He added that Tanzania was participating in the UN peacekeeping missions with its peacekeepers dispatched to various hotspots across the world.

"Tanzania is still sheltering refugees. Currently the country has provided asylum to 324,420 refugees," said president Magufuli.

He said in 2019 Tanzania will continue implementing various projects, including the five-year national development vision aimed at making the country attain a middle class economy.

"The five-year development plan is focusing on major improvements on agriculture, tourism, minerals and air transportation," he told the diplomats.

Ahamada El Badaoui Mohamed, Comoro Ambassador to Tanzania, speaking on behalf of the diplomats, said the envoys were ready to support Tanzania's efforts toward fighting corruption, improving the welfare of its citizens and the industrialization drive.